Shaving implement



Oct. 3, 1944. s. ROEHNER' SHAVING IMPLEMENT Filed Aug. 25, 1945 ATTO R N EYS Patented Oct. 3, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHAVING IMPLEMENT Sollfrey Roehner, Brooklyn, N. Y. I Application August 25, 1943, Serial No. 499,915

Claims.

My invention relates generally to a shaving implement.

Safety razors now in common use generally comprise a blade holder, a guard for the blade edge, and means for removably securing a blade in or to the holder in fixed relation to the guard. Such instruments contemplate replacement of the blade as its shaving edge becomes dull.

One of the objects of my invention is a shaving implement comprised in effect entirely of a blade. This object I attain by so devising the blade that while one portion thereof presents a shaving edge portion which effects a shaving performance another portion of the blade acts as a support and guard therefor.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a blade having a shaving edge whose linear length is substantially greater than the length of the blade, so that thereby I attain an increased length to the shaving edge without an increase in the size of the implement. This I.

attain in a broader aspect by curving the shaving edge concavely and in a more specific aspect,

by curving it to a curvature which is substantially circular.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a shaving implement so devised and constructed that it will shave regardless of the directions in which it is moved without requiring a change in the angular position of the implement. I attain this and other objects by an implement comprised of an annular blade presenting a circular shaving edge on its inner edge or perimeter.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a shaving implement so contoured and dimensioned that a portion of the shaving edge can be manipulated to shave face areas which have hitherto been inaccessible or diflicult of access, such as corners and the lip portions beneath the nostrils. This object I attain in a general way, by a shaving implement which is relatively narrow and, more particularly, by an implement which is curved so that a small curved narrow segment thereof can be manipulated into engagement with said face areas more readily than hitherto. My implement, in accomplishing this objective, avails itself of the inherent resiliency of the facial features in a more effective way than hitherto.

Another object of my invention is a shaving implement which can have a part of the length of its shaving edge angled into proper shaving relation to a surface area to be shaved with a minimum of effort and distortion of the parts. This object I attain in a general way by so contouring the shaving implement that only a short length thereof has to be manipulated to shave such area and, more particularly, by having this short length relatively narrow.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a cutting implement which gives the shaver an optimum view of the area being shaved and of the shaving performance for each increment thereof. This object I attain by a shaving implement which is annular in character and'the opening of which is relatively large and whose perimeter is sharpened to a shaving edge so that the arc of the shaving edge segment which is active at the moment is exposed to full view as is also the corresponding area of the face which is being shaved, and which active segment obscures to a minimum the area being shaved.

The general object of my invention is a new, simple and inexpensive shaving implement which is easy to operate and which requires no adjustment of parts or replacements of blades.

For the attainment of all these objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, I have illustrated embodiments of my invention in drawing wherein- Figure 1 is a top plan view of my shaving implement;

Figure 2 is a cross-section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1; V

Figure 3 shows a modification;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Before proceeding to describe the details of my invention, I will premise that the shaving implement is comprised in essence entirely of a blade member l0 so constructed, devised and dimensioned that it can serve by itself for a shaving operation; that the member H] has been illustrated in Figure 1 to the full scale of a model which I have tried out and which has worked successfully; that the corresponding member ill in the modification of Figure 4 is shown in cross section and on a scale twice that of Figure 1; and that the proportions of certain dimensions in the enlarged cross-section of Figure 2 havebeen exaggerated to bring out the significance of certain structural and dimensional features in the use of my implement.

Upon reference to Figure 1 it will be observed that the implement comprises an annulus l0 defined by an outer perimeter l I, and an inner perimeter [2 which defines a relatively large central opening or space Hi. When measured on the full scale showing of Figure 1, the material of the annulus will be found to, be less than A" in width and the space or opening Hi to be about 1%" across.

Upon viewing the enlarged cross section showing of Figure 2, it will'be observed that the outer perimeter H is in the form of an outer wall which in the illustrated-embodiment is cylindrical, and that the upper and lower faces l6 and I! of the annulus are beveled to meet at an edge H! which corresponds to and forms the perimeter [2 in Figure 1 and that this edge is made purposefully sufficiently keen so that it can perform a shaving operation. The relative dimensions of these parts in the model from which Figure 1 is made, are shown in the annular member In of Figure 4 which shows a cross-section somewhat smaller than that of Figure 2 but on a scale twice that of Figure 1.

I will now explain the manner in which the implement or member 10 of Figure 1 is employed in a shaving operation by reference to the showing in Figure 2 wherein this member is shown as lpositioned or held in shaving relation to the skin of the face which has been designated generally by reference character F, preparatory to thebegin'ning of the shaving performance which is to cut away the short stubble or hairs which I have designated by reference character H. The upper 'end of the member ID in the showing of this figure and to whichI ha've applied the reference character A, is shown as pressed slightly into the face to depress the skin portion opposite the beveled face 16 of the member ID so as to make that skin portion conform to the bevel and bring the surface of the skin opposite the shaving edge portion 18 associated with part A, into close adjacency to that shaving edge portion.

In this position of the parts it will be observed that the skinportion below the shaving edge is pressed upward slightly into the plane of the shaving. edge I8 and that the remote end of the member In, to which I have applied the reference character B, is spaced slightly from the skin portion adjacent thereto. This spacing is the result partly of the angularposition which as points are reached further away fromthis upper portion. It will be here pointed 'out that this position of the parts is effected by manipulating the remote end portion B and that the part A can be any angular segment of the annulus I0 and that the part B is the portion of the annulus which is approximately 180 removed therefrom.

Upon a downward'mov'ement of the annulus ID from its position of Figure 2, the edge portion l8 at the top will progressively out hairs H' as the movement is continued. The showing in Figure'2 will therefore represent the position and relation of the parts to the skin being shaved at any point in this movement.

"The significance of the size of the openin I4, to which reference has been made, is this: There may be a tendency particularly by one not experienced in the use of my implement, to angle the annulus A'to bring the lower portionB in Figure 2 to the right of its position in that fig-,

ure so as to dig or angle the edge It into the skin. Such angling of the portion B to the right will be limited by the engagement of the bevelled portion 16 at B with the adjacent skin surface from which it is spaced and such skin engage-' ment will hold the edge 18 at A'to an-angl'e where the skin will not be out. In this respect the portion B of themember III will serve as a guard to prevent that portion of the shaving edge l8 which may be active at the particular moment from being angled to cut into the skin.

In view of the relatively narrow width of the material of the annulus I0, I find it desirable to associate at some point along its perimeter, an extension member 25 which is of sufficient size and shape so that it can be grasped by the hand for the aforementioned manipulation of the cutter or annulus Hi. It will be pointed out here that, notwithstanding the fixed relation of the extension or handle portion 25 and the annulus, the annulus can nevertheless be manipulated thereby to make any portion of the shaving edge l8 active. For example, if the implement is moved horizontally to the right in Figure 1, the extreme [portion of the edge I8 at the left will be the active shaving portion. If, on the other hand, the handle 25 is pushed horizontally to the left in Figure 1, then the extreme shaving edge portion H! at the right which is immediately adjacent the inner edge of the handle, will do the shaving. If the handle'25 is operated to move the implement in any angular direction between these two extremes, the 'shav-.

ing edge portion which becomes active will shift correspondingly.

The handle member can if desired be made integral with the annulus I0 or as a separate piece and secured thereto in any preferred or desired manner as shown in Figure 2.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures of the drawing, the annulus is shown as defined by perimeters H and [2 which are circular so that the member in is also approximately circular as is the space or opening l4, because sucha structure can be manufactured quickly and inexpensively and attains all the objectives of my invention. It will be understood, however, that some of the majorobjectives of my invention may be attained oven though the cutting edge [8 is not a true circle as herein disclos'ed. It will be further understood that the word annulus as herein used is intended to cover all ringlike types of members eie'n though they do not precisely respond to Figure 2 as to circularity unless more specifically defined or limited.

The modification shown in'Figures 3 and 4 differs from that shown "in Figures land 2 primarily in that I have incorporated a member 30 which serves as an additional oralternating guard. This guard member 30 is, an annular member supported in any preferred or desired manner from the annulus lllf. In Figure 3 this support is shown as comprising the spaced elements orportions' 3| which support the member 3|] from the annulus I0 about as shown in Figure 4. It will be observed that the guard meme ber 39 is located within the beveled surface ll which is the upper or outer surface in the shaving performance as will. be observed upon viewing Figure 2. Any tendency to 'angletheportion of the shaving edge is, which is active, sharply into the face will be prevented by that portion of the guard member 30' which is immediately adjacent thereto because it will engage the skin and limit the aforementioned. angling. This guard member 30 is shown as annular or circular to conform to the general contours dis-' closure of the illustrated embodiments.

In Figures 3 and 4 it will be observed that the contouror shape of the handle 25 is somewhat different from that shown in Figure 1 and that the handle 25' in Figure A is angled relatively to the plane of the annulus. This has been done to indicate the extent to which the members 25 and 25 can be varied without affecting the general objects of my invention.

As already indicated, the member I like the member ID of Figure 2 is defined by the outer circular wall I5 and the beveled edges 16' and I1 which form the shaving edge l8'.

It will be observed from what has been already stated that the bevels I6 and [1 position the shaving edge [8 in a horizontal plane intermediate of the upper and lower edges of the perimetrical outer wall l5 and as a result a successful shaving operation requires that the remote segment of the implement, identified generically as the part A, must be pressed slightly into the skin surface and that this action will cause the skin to be taut, which is a condition which is desirable for a proper shaving performance.

The curved character of the implement, its narrowness and the large size of the central opening present the advantages that the implement will obstruct the field of vision of the shaver only to a minor degree and will permit him to get a good View of the active portion of the shaving edge and of the skin surface being shaved. One of the reasons for this is that the active portion of the shaving edge represents or underlies a relatively small segment of the implement which is relatively small.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A shaving implement comprising an annulus which encompasses and defines a central opening which is relatively large as compared to the width of the annulus, said opening being substantially circular and having a diameter in excess of one inch and less than two inches, the edge which defines the opening being sharpened to a shaving edge, whereby any length of said annulus can be brought into engagement with the face so that upon movement of the annulus in any direction radially thereof, the portion of the shaving edge that underlies said length will perform a shaving operation.

2. A shaving implement comprising a narrow annulus defined by an outer perimetrical wall which is substantially cylindrical, an inner perimetrical edge'and top and bottom surfaces, said top and bottom surfaces being inclined inwardly to said inner edge to define a bevel so that said inner edge can serve as a shaving edge.

:3. A shaving implement comprising a relatively narrow annulus defined by an outer wall and top and bottom walls which are inclined to meet to form an annular shaving edge which defines the opening in the annulus, said edge being in a plane intermediate the top and bottom of said outer wall, whereby a portion of said annulus can be angled into a relation to a skin area wherein it is sufficiently depressed therein to tauten that area and bring the shaving edge into proper shaving relation.

4. A shaving implement comprising a relatively narrow annulus defined by an outer wall and top and bottom walls which are inclined to meet to form an annular shaving edge which defines the opening in the annulus, said edge being in a, plane intermediate the top and bottom of said outer Wall, whereby the angling of the implement to bring the shaving edge underlying a portion of said implement into shaving relation to a skin area, is limited and controlled by a remote portion of the annulus.

5. A shaving implement comprising an annulus which encompasses and defines a central opening which is relatively large as compared to the width of the annulus, said opening being substantially circular and having a diameter in excess of one inch and less than two inches, the edge which defines the opening being sharpened to a shaving edge, whereby any length of said annulus can be brought into engagement with the face so that upon movement of the annulus'in any direction radially thereof, the portion of the shaving edge that underlies said length will perform. a shaving operation, said annulus having an extension whereby it may be manipulated.

SOLLFREY ROEHNER. 

